Sally Thornton

This talk reveals new frameworks in considering how to not just adapt, but thrive. We draw on the science behind work (both neuroscience and behavioral science) to tease out what will remain true and important to do our best work both individually and as a high-performing team member.

The future of teams includes:

• Creativity – what are the levers to keep your ideas flowing under pressure

• Energy / Wellbeing – practical, research-backed ways to sustain your power as both an individual and team

• Belonging – key strategies using behavioral science to strengthen team collaboration

• Adapting – harnessing a learning mindset with clear communication and prioritization (and re-prioritization!) skills

This workshop takes the science of high-performing teams (from prior section) and blends in more time for how individuals can do their best work without burnout. If desired, the science of how gender differences show up in the workplace with specific tools to navigate them is available for audiences for women leaders.

This workshop explores why leaders who move ideas and organizations forward aren’t always the ones with the best data—they’re the ones who know how to tell a compelling story. Drawing on neuroscience and behavioral science, we’ll work through four signature story types that move people from resistance to action, practice the strategic use of vulnerability (there’s a difference between courage and TMI), and build your personal story bank for different contexts.

You’ll leave with a framework you can use immediately and at least one story locked and loaded for your next crucial conversation. The future doesn’t belong to leaders with all the answers—it belongs to those who can help their teams see new possibilities through meaningful and memorable stories.

Humor isn’t just about lightening the mood—it’s about accelerating connection, building trust, and making your ideas more memorable. This workshop draws on research from Stanford professors Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas to explore how humor functions as a leadership tool, not as a personality trait.

We’ll help you identify your natural humor style and show you how to use it more intentionally. You’ll learn practical techniques for finding moments of levity in everyday work, and discover low-risk ways to bring more humanity into high-stakes conversations. We’ll also explore how to develop signature stories that land with impact while staying authentically you.

The goal isn’t to become a comedian—it’s to connect more effectively with your teams, strengthen your leadership presence, and create the kind of team environment where people do their best work.

This workshop helps you strengthen your capacity to influence outcomes and navigate complex negotiations—skills that become more critical as the pace of work accelerates and stakeholder dynamics grow more complex. We draw on behavioral science and negotiation research to move beyond positional bargaining toward approaches that create value for multiple parties.

You’ll learn how to identify underlying interests (yours and theirs), manage the tensions that naturally arise when priorities conflict, and build coalitions even when you lack formal authority. We’ll work through real scenarios you’re facing, giving you a practical toolkit for the negotiations that matter most—whether that’s budget conversations, organizational change, or strategic partnerships.

The goal is to help you move things forward more effectively, even when the path isn’t straightforward.

Designed with the end in mind… what would be a quality outcome of our working together? I then tailor the workshop to your specific goals in the right context (i.e., industry, geography, challenges).

Ideally, workshops have a “through line” over a period of time where participants can act on the ideas and keep building their skills together like a DNA strand.